The Lowdown
I’m quite impressed with the Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W; it has USB-A and USB C charging ports, and it delivers up to 65W of power yet is under $50. I appreciate the fact that the charger can keep my phone and iPad charged and that it can replace my laptop’s charger. I also appreciate that it’s smart enough to maximize the charging efficiency when two devices are connected, which helps keep the adapter from overheating and causing damage to the connected device.
Overall
Pros
- Compact but powerful
- Charges two devices at once
- Smart charging protects devices and optimizes the charging process
- Fast charging can get most devices to a 50% charge in well under an hour
- Powerful enough to charge most laptops
Cons
- You’ll have to supply your own charging cables
- If you regularly charge a laptop and another device with it, you should opt for the 100W charger that costs $20 more
In recent weeks, Harman‘s Infinity Lab has released several different charging solutions; these include high-performance wall adapters and a range of external battery packs. They have sent me a number of their new products to try; this review will look at their new Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W, a powerful USB-C and USB-A PD charger.
I love the fact my iPad and my MacBook Air both use a USB-C port for charging, as it cuts down on the number of different wall adapters I need. Using only USB-C charging is helpful at all times, but it is especially efficient when traveling — something I’m hoping to begin doing again soon. The Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W is an excellent solution if you need to charge multiple devices on the go or are simply looking to limit the number of outlets you need.
Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W Features:
- Charge your device in the blink of an eye
- Advanced safety and reliability
- Eco materials and packaging made from 90% recycled plastics
- Smart power distribution
- Light and compact as a laptop power adapter
- Swappable US/EU/UK travel plugs
- Fast charge USB-C equipped laptops
- Protection Pouch
- Charge two devices simultaneously
- GaN technology inside for higher energy efficiency
- Know when the power is on through the LED power indicator
The Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W charger comes in simple, environmentally aware packaging. Inside the box, you get the wall adapter, three different interchangeable adapter prongs. More on that momentarily.
The back of the wall adapter has two charging ports, a USB-C and a USB-A; I guess we are still a few years away from companies dropping the legacy USB port altogether. The Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W is powerful enough that you can fast-charge USB-C-equipped laptops.
The Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W comes in your choice of white or black and measures 2.2″ wide by 2.2″ tall by 1.1 thick without the wall plug attached; it weighs just under a 1/4 pound.
A colorful accent stripe adds interest and also has the Infinity Lab name subtly embossed on its surface. It looks great but, if I’m being honest, I really don’t care what my wall adapter looks like. However, I like the soft-touch material used in the construction of the wall adapter; it makes the adapter unique. Most importantly, it’s made from a material that will not collect smudges or fingerprints.
A small indicator light on the back illuminates to let you know when the wall adapter is passing over to a phone, laptop, or tablet.
When designing this wall adapter, the company took a page out of the Apple playbook and gave it interchangeable prongs.
One is a standard US 110V plug, while the other two will pretty much cover the rest of the world. That means this one wall adapter is all you need to bring on your next trip unless you need to charge more than two devices simultaneously. Of course, the $49.95 Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W charger doesn’t come with charging cables, so you will still need to bring those along with you.
Infinity Lab makes it clear that, despite being as small and light as it is, this adapter can charge most laptops. They explain that that’s possible thanks to “the power of GaN (gallium nitride) technology, [which makes] the InstantCharger 65W 2 USB the ultimate, lightweight power adapter. Perfect for people who don’t want to be weighed down.”
With the proper USB-C to USB-C cable that can handle 65W of power, I’ve been able to charge a range of laptops, including my post-2018 MacBook Air, thanks to the 65W PD charging. When charging two devices at once, the USB-A port can deliver up to 15W of power; be aware that when doing so, however, the USB-C port’s output is reduced, keeping the charger’s total output at 65W. If you regularly charge a laptop and phone at the same time, you should probably opt for the 100W charger for $20 more
As you might expect from a wall adapter packing the latest technology, the Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W is smart enough to know how to allocate the power distribution to maximize the efficiency of the process.
Infinity Lab notes that “Power Delivery 3.0 ensures fast charging for your devices.” But how fast is fast? According to the company:
An iPhone 12 can be recharged up to 50% in 30 just minutes with the Samsung Galaxy S21 taking a bit longer at 40 minutes. A 2020 MacBook Air takes just 45 minutes to get to 50% capacity and, considering how power efficient the M1 MacBook Air is, that 50% charge will yield a significant amount of additional work or entertainment time.
Of course, these numbers will be impacted by everything from the device, the battery size, temperature, humidity, and the condition and age of the device.
I’m quite impressed with the Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W; it has USB-A and USB C charging ports, and it delivers up to 65W of power yet is under $50. I appreciate the fact that the charger can keep my phone and iPad charged and that it can replace my laptop’s charger. I also appreciate that it’s smart enough to maximize the charging efficiency when two devices are connected, which helps keep the adapter from overheating and causing damage to the connected device.
Add in the fact that the Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W is made with 90% recycled plastics and ships with three swappable sets of prongs, giving you a world-friendly and world-responsible charger.
You can check out all of Infinity Lab’s new charging solutions here.
The Infinity Lab InstantCharger 65W 2 USB charger retails for $49.95; it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Compact but powerful; Charges two devices at once; Smart charging protects devices and optimizes the charging process; Fast charging can get most devices to a 50% charge in well under an hour; Powerful enough to charge most laptops
What Needs Improvement: You’ll have to supply your own charging cables; If you regularly charge a laptop and another device with it, you should opt for the 100W charger that costs $20 more